Leionema ellipticum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leionema ellipticum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leionema
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| Species: |
ellipticum
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Leionema ellipticum is a special kind of shrub that only grows in Queensland, Australia. It's a small plant with smooth, green leaves. This shrub also has pretty creamy-white flowers that bloom in the spring.
What is Leionema ellipticum?
Leionema ellipticum is a small shrub that can grow up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall. It has smooth, shiny branches that are mostly round. Its leaves are shaped like an oval, getting narrower at the bottom.
The leaves are about 5 cm (2.0 in) long and 2 cm (0.79 in) wide. They feel smooth and thin, like paper, and have a rounded tip. The flowers grow in groups. Each flower is about 2 cm (0.79 in) long. They sit on a tiny stalk, about 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. These stalks sometimes have very small, soft hairs.
The flower has small, leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals are thick and shaped like triangles, about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long. The white petals are about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long. They are narrow and oval-shaped. These petals are smooth and have a clear ridge down the middle. This plant blooms from December to January.
How it Got its Name
The plant Leionema ellipticum was first officially described in 1998. This was done by a scientist named Paul G. Wilson. His description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its name, ellipticum, comes from the Latin word elipticus. This word describes the oval shape of the plant's leaves.
Where Does it Grow?
This shrub grows in only a few places. You can find it in a windy, mountainous area in north-east Queensland.
